Vehicle-gear.



- No. 734,706. i. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

E L. E. HIGKOK a C. T. MOCUE.

VEHICLE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 28. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented July 28, 1903.

Fries.

Armar LESTER E. I-IICKOK, OF MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND CHARLES T.MCCUE, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT; SAID IIICKOK ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OFHIS RIGHT TO FRANK E. WILCOX, OF MECHANICSBURG,

PENNSYLVANIA.

AvaI-ilcLE-ema.

sPnoIFIoA'rIoN forming part of Lettefsratnt No. 734,706, dated July 2s,190s.

Applicants inea otober 28,1902. serial no. 129,081. (No man.

To all whom it 1v1/tyconcern.:VV i

Be it known that we, LESTER E. I-IIcKoK, a resident of Mechanicsburg,Cumberland county, Stateof Pennsylvania, and CHARLES 4 5 T. MCCUE, aresident of Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut,citizens of the United States, have invented new and YusefulImprovements in Vehicle# Gears, of which the following is a specificarotion. i

Our invention relates to vehicle-gears, the objectA being Itheproduction of a gear comprising few parts which shall be very simple inconstructiom'which shall have the lower l5 fifth-wheel member andcentral bearing-boss integral with the axle, 4which shall preferablyhave the upper fifth-wheel member, reacbf irons, and spring-plateintegral, which shall be very strong and not liable` to become dezoranged, and which withal shall constitute a superior means forperforming the requisite functions of a perfect gear.

Our invention consists in certain novelties of construction andcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth andclaimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an example of the .physicalembodiment of lour invention constructed accordingto the best 3o mode wehave so far devised for the practical `application of the principle.

Figure l is a top plan of the gear with the spring, spring-stays, andreaches removed. Fig. 2 is a front viewin elevation with the spring andspring-stays in place. Fig. 3 is a perpendicular section in elevation ofFig. 2, taken on a line corresponding to line @c x, Fig. A1. Fig. 4c isa cross-section in elevation of the complete gear, taken at theking-bolt and 4o to one side of the antirattler. Fig. 5 is a top planview of the spring-plate, reach-irons, andupperiifth-wheel member. Fig.6 is a top plan view of the axle, axle-boss, and lower member of thefifth-wheel. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the brace andantirattlerspring.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, the letter Adesignatesthe metallic axle,

which in this instance is curved in cross-sectional outline; B, thelower circular member of the fifth-wheel forged integral with the axleand having its free ends projecting beyondthe same; C, the perforatedcylindrical bearing-boss integral with the axle, projecting above thesame and in the rear thereof; D, a recess in the under surface of theboss; E, a spring-plate or plate to serve as a bearing for the spring;F, a recess in the upper surface of the plate, whereby the lower leaf ofthe spring may frictionally engage the bearing-surface of the plateencircling the'recess; G,a recess in the lower surface of the plate toreceive the heads of the bolts and hide them from View; H, thedownwardly-inclined ends of the plate which connect with the upperfifth-wheel member; I, a perforated bearing-lug at the rear of the platecontaining in its lower surface a circular recess within which islocated the bearing-boss of the axle; J, a flange surrounding therecess; K, a brass washer; L, bolt-holes through the plate; M,perforated leaves of an elliptical spring; N, bolts and nuts; O, theupper circular member of the fifth-wheel; P, perforated lugs; Q, thereach-irons integral with the spring-plate;

`R, the raised perforated bearings upon the reach-irons; S, the reaches;T, the springstays, perforated and engaging the raised bearings; Il, theperforated heads of the spring-stays; V, the bolts uniting thereachirons and spring-stays; W, a brace; X, the tapering head of thebrace; Y, the perforated recessed end of the brace, within which thelower member of the fifth-wheel is seated and moves; Z, a perforatedleaf-spring having `concave-convex ends in cross-section which bearagainst the lower surface of the lower member of the fifth-wheel andholds it in frictional contact with the upper member; Z', bolts; Z2, theking-bolt, and Z3 is a nut on the king-bolt.

The method of assembling the parts is obvious upon an inspection ofthedrawings and need not be set forth.

From the foregoing description it is clear that we have producedavehicle-gear which fulfils all the conditions enumerated as the purposeand object of our invention. It will cations may be introduced at thewill of the manufacturer. We have shown the upper member of thefifth-wheel integral with the reach-irons and spring-plate and locatedbelow the reach-irons, and we prefer this construction; but the uppermember may be secured in place by other means than welding. Thespring-plate is recessed upon its under surface, so that the heads ofthe boltswill be hidden. This recess may, however, in some cases beomitted. All such and other changes we shall consider as unsubstantialand as falling within the scope of our invention.

What We claim as new, and desire to s ecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a vehicle-gear, of a metallic axle having thelower circular member of the fth-wheel and the cylindrical bearing-bossintegral therewith; a springplate with reach-irons, and a perforated lugor boss integral therewith; an upper circular fifth-wheel member havinglugs, P, and secured to the ends of the spring-plate and beneath the topsurfaces of the reach-irons; a brace with a perforated head and aperforated and recessed end secured to the lugs, P; and a king-bolt.

2. The combination in a vehicle-gear, of a metallic axle having thelower member of the fifth-wheel and the cylindrical bearing-bossintegral therewith; a spring-plate, reachirons, perforated lug, andupper member of the fifth-wheel formed integral; spring-stays secured tothe reach-irons; a lower brace having a head at one end engaging theaxleboss, and its rear end secured to the upper member of thefifth-wheel; and a king-bolt.

3. The combination with a vehicle-gear, of a lower brace having one endsecured to the axle, and the other end secured to the upper member of afifth-wheel and confining the lower member of the fifth-wheel; and aspring bearing against the lower member and holding it in frictionalcontact with the upper member.

4. The combination with a vehicle-gear, of an'upper fifth-wheel memberhaving perforated lugs, a brace with a recess for the lower member ofthe fifth-wheel, a spring with ends bearing against the lower member,and bolts securing the several parts together.

5. The combination witha vehicle-gear having upper and lower circularfifth-wheel members, of an axle provided with a perforated cylindricalboss, C, in the rear thereof; a spring-plate with a recessed andperforated lug, I, fitting over the boss, C, a lower brace with aperforated head at one end and secured to the upper member ofthefifth-wheel at the other end; and a king-bolt.

In testimony whereof we ax our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LESTER E. HICKOK. CHARLES T. MCCUE.

Witnesses:

F. E. WILooX, H. T. DoLE.

